Milito rejects chance to take over as Independiente coach

Former Independiente defender Gabriel Milito finally backtracked on his decision to take over as head coach at the Avellaneda side, and will continue training the younger players at the club after declining the chance to succeed Omar De Felippe in the top role.

The ex-Barcelona centre-back had earlier agreed to take the job after several meetings with new Independiente president, Teamsters union boss Hugo Moyano.

But this evening, Milito defied rumours that he would sign an 18-month contract to turn down the post, opting instead to continue with his current role with the Diablos Rojos.

Directors of the club, which returned to the Primera División in May following a year in the second-tier Nacional B division, now have less than two weeks to find a replacement for De Felippe, who walked out on the club after failing to agree terms on a new contract.

Milito, who helps coach the youth and reserve divisions in the club after retiring as a player in 2012, is in his second spell with the Rojo. The ex-defender began his professional career with the club in 1997 after coming up through the youth ranks, and returned in 2011 to play one further year in Avellaneda.